Monthly Archives: May 2014

On twitter, it is fun to read the ‘handles’ of people who post there. Often the names people use say something about the poster. God has a series of compound names in addition to Elohim, Jehovah, El Shaddai. These names tell us something about God that are significant to remember.

After my last post I was so struck by the significance of these compound names that I had to go back to Genesis and find the first one, Jehovah-jireh. It is used in Genesis 22:13-14.

13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.

This ‘shall be seen’ is in the sense of God’s provision. God provides. Abraham was about to offer his own son as a sacrificial burnt offering. This is not a big show of ‘appeasing the gods’ so prevalent in that culture. God does not have to be appeased. Yes, Abraham would do anything for God. He genuinely loved God, but the whole event proves that ultimately that it is God that provides, not man.

Evidence that God provides is so prevalent everywhere. It’s in His Word. It is found displayed in nature. It shows up in individuals led by the spirit of God.

God’s provision appears in remarkable clarity. There is no mistaking it. Sometimes man’s thinking however, gets in the way. Man is responsible to do his best. In Exodus when the Israelites came up against the Amalekites, Joshua was the one sent in to lead the battle and he did his best, but it was Moses up on a hill holding up his hands to God that brought about the victory. It is a classic example how God is the one who provides.

Abraham had several instances where he tried to make something happen by his own means (birth of his first son, the lie to Pharaoh about Sarah being his sister are examples). Moses did too. It is very easy to do and it happens all the time today. God is not an over-doer in the sense he does not throw everything at the wall to see what sticks, He always does what’s right. Man often overdoes and seldom gets it right.

There are so many versions and interpretations about this section in Genesis 22 and one could go on and on analyzing it till the cows (or the ram) come home, but the point that God made with Abraham is all wrapped up in the name Jehovah-jireh. God provides! We just need to do our best and let Him do the rest! The key ingredients of doing our best are: prayer, listening (always a part of prayer), reading up on, waiting if necessary, and acting when the time is right.

There is a scene in Exodus 17 that is better than the flag scene in the movie, Patriot. It occured right after the children of Israel had been complaining about water again, this time at Rephidum (‘place of rest’). Moses, frustrated, went to God. God told Mose to take the rod and hit a rock (water out of a rock?). Voila! Water!

Amalek attacked the Israelites when they were camped at Rephidim. Moses responded by appointing Joshua to lead up the battle against them. Joshua did as Moses told him. Moses took Aaron, and Hur up on top of a hill with the rod of God in his hand. As Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed in battle and when Moses let down his hand Amalek prevailed. As Moses got tired of holding his hands up, Aaron and Hur propped him up until they won.

Moses never physically entered the battle. His praying focus to God was visible. This battle was won by God. Joshua carried out God’s will. Those who stood by saw how the battle was won. For Joshua who would later take on the big task of leading the children of Israel into the promised land, it was just what he needed to learn and experience.

The name for God, Jehovah-Nissi, signifies victory in the battle. The name means: The Lord Our Banner. A banner is a standard (often a flag with an insignia) to identify a group or company with the force behind it. For God’s people in Exodus, God was their standard.

Exodus 17:13-16 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.14 And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi: 16 For he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.

God is our banner. Whatever today’s ‘Amalek’ is, God provides the victory. The battle may take time and effort, but it is won with focus and prayer. God wants us to remember what he has done, is doing and will do for us. He is the wind in our banner.

Psalm 60:4 Thou hast given a banner to them that fear (respect) thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.

In the section of the Old Testament I am reading now (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), there are several major sections of murmuring records. The people involved murmured against Moses. They were on a roll in Exodus 15:24, 16:2 and 17:2-3. Moses was acting for God, so it was really God whom they were complaining about. Moses explained to them that they were murmuring against God in Exodus 16:7:

And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the Lord; for that he heareth your murmurings against the Lord: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?

What a waste of time! Laying blame at God’s throne is ultimately an act of unbelief. Moses said to the Israelites in Exodus 14:13:

And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

The blame game has been alive since the beginning long before anything was written down in God’s word. It is still around today. God is not to be blamed. Moses told the people not to fear and to stand still and see God go into action.

What does it mean to stand still? I looked it up and it is the Hebrew word ‘yatsab’. It means to set, station oneself, take one’s stand. With any circumstance, the act of believing is to do just that. It means to stop being afraid and take one’s stand with God. Sure there are Red Seas, enemies, no food, no water and what ever else comes at us. Regardless we can just plant our feet in God’s light and face whatever head on. We lay claim to God not circumstances.

What does it mean to stand still? I looked it up and it is the Hebrew word ‘yatsab’. It means to set, station oneself, take one’s stand. With any circumstance, the act of believing is to do just that. It means to stop being afraid and take one’s stand with God. Sure there are Red Seas, enemies, no food, no water and what ever else comes at us. Regardless we can just plant our feet in God’s light and face whatever head on. We lay claim to God not circumstances.

In our day and time, Jesus Christ has been resurrected, the Bible is printed and the pouring out of the gift of holy spirit on the day of Pentecost has happened. We have a lot of resources individually that they didn’t have in the Old Testament so we shouldn’t be too judgmental on those ‘murmuring’ travelers. ‘Standing still’ involves a huge dose of thankfulness!

In Exodus 16, the provision of the manna is a great record with lots of lessons that apply to us. God provided on a daily basis. He provided enough for each individual. Some of the travelers however thought it they ought to store up some manna in case maybe God runs out the next day???? If God provides today, He will provide tomorrow.

Matthew 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

I can think of so many instances where tomorrow can become so much more important than today if we allow it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with planning ahead. The Israelites had a plan to follow. Being anxious for tomorrow is the key issue. God just doesn’t show up one day and disappear another day. Daily we should trust God (It was God that made a day equal to 24 hrs!)

Manna is a substance that the Israelites found in the early hours of the morning that came from God to sustain them. The word ‘manna’ in essence means “what is it?” because they had no idea what it was. God was specific in how they were to collect it and use it. For 5 days they collected enough for that day. They were supposed to use it all or it would go bad. On the sixth day however, they were told to collect double and save some of it for the seventh day. The 6th day gatherings did not go bad. Go figure! God’s provisions are seldom formulaic! A formula always works the same!

God not only provided the manna but he provided for the individual needs of the people. It is a great lesson of trust. God never resides “in a box”. Too often we try to put him in a box. Just when we think we’ve got it all figured out, he surprises us with greater blessings that don’t fit within the ‘box’! Ephesians 3:20.

There are four great lessons from this:

1. God loves us and is to be trusted

2. He knows our need

3. He is able to provide

4. He WANTS to provide

When we get to the place where we realize how much God wants to provide, we will listen to Him intently. He provides what we need and more.

Man gets so anxious about what he perceives is ahead of him. We just have to think “manna” instead! God had gotten the Israelites to a pleasant rest area in Elim (Exodus 15:27). After leaving Elim and entering into the wilderness, they began to complain against Moses and Aaron (which was in actuality a complaining against God). Instead of looking to God, they looked at the sand and surroundings. Whaaaa! Moses, however, looked in God’s direction because he got the answer and told the people how God would provide. The sand and dust didn’t magically disappear, but God gave them ‘manna’!

God will and does provide. More importantly, it is His heart to provide. The great name of God, Jehovah-Raphah (‘for I am the Lord that healeth thee’), makes it’s debut just prior to landing in Elim. There is no doubt the world appears as a wilderness at times. There is lots of junky stuff going on. Instead of falling in the mire of it all, we should look for the bridge over it all. From a bridge we can still what’s below, but we also can see the way to the oasis on the other side.

About

Blogroll

Lowliness, humility and meekness mean rising up to God’s vision of ourselves rather than bringing God down to our level.

Through the years I have been involved in several groups and have taken many classes in biblical studies. I enjoy looking at God's word as shared by others. God has a way of connecting us and providing the fellowship we need at just the right time. We can have wonderful, rich connections on a daily basis. Ultimately, however, we each need to take responsibility to get to know God and how much He loves us. Since having started to slowly read and study the Old Testament, I have been amazed by the simplicity of truth and the envelope of love and grace throughout the whole bible. God's son, Jesus Christ is alive today and building his church. The real church is not a building made of bricks and mortar. Instead it is made up of people who believe in God and what God has given us in his son . The Word of God is a rich and powerful because of the gift of holy spirit that inspired its writers and inspires today those who read it.
I started this trek several years ago and presently I am in the books of Samuel. Often, I jump back into the New Testament in my writings because it all relates.

Interesting Books

J Dan Gill - The One- In Defence of God
Wayne Jacobsen - Finding Church- what if there is something more?
I like to read books and I have found the above books to be a blessing. I like to read what others have written and allow God to work in my own heart where I might disagree.